Absences and Tardiness
Regular school attendance is required by law.
It is difficult for children when they arrive at school late. They can struggle to catch up to the classroom activities and it can be disruptive to the classroom instruction when they arrive late. Parents are asked to make every effort to bring their children to school before the 8:00am bell rings. This allows children to settle in, and begin the day with their peers.
EXCUSED ABSENCES:
The following information is included in this handbook under the direction of the Catholic Schools Office of the Archdiocese of Washington.
The following are valid reasons for excused absences from school (if properly documented upon the student’s return to school):
Any absence that does not fall into one of the above categories, or is not properly documented by the student’s parent/guardian, is an unexcused absence.
- When a student is absent because of illness, call the front office or send an email to the child’s homeroom teacher and include the front office (at office@bethesda-lourdes.org), by 9:00 am each day that the student is absent.
- Students are given one day to make up missed work for every day that they are ill. In cases of extended illness, teachers and parents will work to create a plan for covering missed work.
- Family vacations during the time when school is in session can adversely affect a child’s success in school. Please notify the school office and the classroom teacher in advance if your child will miss school for a vacation or trip.
- Students who will miss school for a family vacation are expected to meet with the teacher to create a plan for missed assignments and return those completed assignments as directed by the teacher.
It is difficult for children when they arrive at school late. They can struggle to catch up to the classroom activities and it can be disruptive to the classroom instruction when they arrive late. Parents are asked to make every effort to bring their children to school before the 8:00am bell rings. This allows children to settle in, and begin the day with their peers.
- Students in grades K - 5 are marked tardy if they are not present to walk with their class to the classroom after the morning assembly.
- Students in grades 6 - 8 are tardy if they are not in the gym, in line when the bell rings at 8:00am.
- If you arrive after the morning assembly, please sign your child in at the front desk.
EXCUSED ABSENCES:
The following information is included in this handbook under the direction of the Catholic Schools Office of the Archdiocese of Washington.
The following are valid reasons for excused absences from school (if properly documented upon the student’s return to school):
- Illness of the student (after three days of illness, student must provide medical documentation indicating that he/she is able to return to school);
- Medical or dental appointments;
- Death in the student’s immediate family;
- Necessity for a student to attend a judicial proceeding;
- Lawful suspension or exclusion from school by the chief administrator;
- Temporary closing of facilities or suspension of classes due to severe weather, official activities, holidays, malfunctioning equipment, unsafe or unsanitary conditions, or other conditions requiring closing or suspension of classes; and
- Other absent(s) approved in advance by the chief administrator upon the written request of a parent or guardian. Sufficient notice should be given to the school in order to provide anticipated student work that the student is expected to complete during their absence. Failure to provide sufficient notice may result in an unexcused absence.
Any absence that does not fall into one of the above categories, or is not properly documented by the student’s parent/guardian, is an unexcused absence.
Daily Schedule
Pre-K through Grade 8: School begins at 8:00 am. Students gather in the gym by class before the 8:00 am bell. Dismissal is at 3:00 pm on full days and at 12:10 pm on half days. After school, students must be under the supervision of faculty or staff if they are in the school building. Students whose parents are unable to arrive by 3:10 (or 12:20 on half days) are signed in to After School Care. Parents should see the ASC Director to retrieve their child. This allows us to ensure that all children are cared for and kept safe at all times when they are at Lourdes.
Morning Drop Off |
School doors open at 7:30 each morning. Children should enter the gym and join their classroom line. Teachers provide supervision in the gym beginning at 7:30 am each morning. Parents are encouraged to remain with us during morning prayers and announcements in the gym.
If your child is late to school – arriving after his or her class has left the gym – please enter the building with your child and sign in at the desk. |
Afternoon Pick Up |
Students are dismissed to the parking lot after the 3:00 pm bell. Students walk to the parking lot with their teacher and classmates, and remain with their teacher until a parent has notified the teacher that he or she is taking the child.
Parents should park their cars in the parking lot and walk over to their child's line. Children are not permitted to run to the car or be picked up on the street. Parents should never park in the church parking spots on the street. All cars should enter the lot and park. While this may take a few extra minutes, it ensures that all students are safe during the dismissal process. Students who walk home or ride the metro are dismissed from school when their class walks to the parking lot. Students who walk and ride the metro must have a written permission to do so on file in the school office. Students attending After School Care go to ASC before their classmates go outside. Teachers and children remain outside until 3:10 pm. At 3:10 pm all students who have not been picked up return to the building and check in to the After School Care Program, where they will be supervised until the parent arrives. No students wait outside or in the school lobby. |
After School Care |
After School Care is provided from 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm on full days, and from 12:10 pm – 6:00 pm on half days, for an additional fee.
All questions should be directed to the After Care Staff: Mr. David Long at ololasc@yahoo.com, or dlong@bethesda-lourdes.org. |
Early Dismissal |
Instruction is provided from 8:15 am through 2:55 pm. At 2:55 pm students pray together to end the school day. Parents are urged to allow their children to remain in school until the school day ends. If a child must leave school before the day ends, parents should notify the school office and the classroom teacher before noon.
When parents arrive at the school, the child will be called from his or her classroom. Children will not be released to anyone other than a parent or guardian without written permission from the parent. Non-custodial, unfamiliar adults may be required to show acceptable proof of identity. |
Visitors |
For the safety of our children all visitors should enter and exit the building through the main doors. The lower doors on either side of the front entrance are armed with an alarm and should not be used to enter or exit the building during the school day. Visitors should sign in at the office and wear a “Visitor” name tag.
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